Animal-trap.



` M. 0. COX.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLIGATION FILED Nov.5,19o.

921,204, v Patented May 11, 1909.

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MARTljN O. COX, OF lYGH VALLEY, OREGON.

ANMAL-TRAP.

Application filed November 5, 1908.

To all whom tt may concern:

Beit known that l, MARTIN O. Cox, a citizen of the United States7residing at Tygh Valley, in the county of Wasco and State of Oregon,have invented a new and useful Animal-Trap, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has reference to improvements in animal traps and isdesigned for the destruction of animals ot' no commercial value butwhich are destructive to life or property. Among such animals may bementioned wolves, and coyotes, which animals are not easily enticed intoordinary traps and which it is desirahle to kill outright and at thesame time frighten other animals of like nature away.

in accordance with the present invention an explosive is used Within thehait and means are provided whereby the animal in attempting to carryoil the hait will cause the ignition of the explosive. By this moans theanimal seizing the bait causes its own dedestruotion and if a highexplosive such as dynamite be used then other animals in the immediatevicinity may also he killed while the noise of the explosion will tendto frighten other animals not killed or injured but still in thevicinity so that they will not he liable to again return to the scene ofthe explosion.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing` detail description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification, in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device forming the subject matterof the present invention and showing the manner of its use. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section through a portion of the device showing theelectric circuit closing means. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of theexplosive carrier or cartridge.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a casing 1 of such size thatwhen inclosed in a suitable bait 2 the mass may be grasped in the mouthof an animal such as it is desirable to destroy.

The casing 1 is closed at one end as indicated at 3 and open at theother end and While this casing may be made of any suitable material itis desirable that it should be made of lead.

The casing is designed to be filled with a suitable explosive asindicated at l1 and preferably this explosive is dynamite but ofSpecification of Letters Patent.

atented May 1 1, 1909.

Serial No. 461,175.

course any other suitable explosive may be used, it being preferablehowever to use a high explosive and dynamite is a readily obtainablehigh explosive especially in regions where destructive animals which itis desirable to destroy are found.

A suitable dynamite cap 5 is located within the casing 1 at the closedend thereof and einhedded in the dynamite and from this cap lead twoconductors 6 7 suitably protected hy insulation 8, the closed end 3hoing provided witlr a perforation for the passage of the conductors.

The conductor 7 may extend to a battery 9 or other suitable source ofelectric current while the conductor 6 has its continuity broken by acircuit closing means nest shown in 2. This circuit closing meansconsists of two insulated conducting loops 10-11 interlocking at theirmeeting ends as indicated in Fig. 2 and at these points the insulationis omitted so that when the loops are moved longitudinally one on theother the non-insulated parts will come in contact tQ there complete acircuit. rl`he other ends of the loops are also bared of insulation andare there connected to the hroken ends of the conductor 6.

At the ends of the loops l0 and 11 where they join with the conductor 6they are each surrounded by a sleeve 12 made fast to the correspondingend of a helical spring 13 which latter houses the contacting ends ofthe loops 10 and 11. The normal tendency of the spring 13 is to remainin the contracted position and in this position the circuit closing endsof the loops 10 and 11 which in the drawing are indicated at 14 areseparated one from the other and are revented from closing the circuitby the insu ated portions of the said loops. Any force tending to drawthe separated ends of the conductor 6 away one from the other will tendto extend the spring 13 and permit the ends 14 of the loops 10 and 11 tomake contact one with the other and thus close the circuit of thebattery 9 and the current from said battery will flow to the cap 5 andcause the ignition of said cap which in turn will cause the explosion ofthe dynamite 4 within the casing 1. The conductors 6 and 7, or in theparticular structure shown in Fig. 1 the conductor 6 is made fast to apeg 15 driven into the ground or to any other fixed structure.

If now an animal attracted by the bait should seize the bait and try tocarry it away,

or at least drag it a sulii cient distance to put a strain upon thespring 13, Winch latter need not be of more than very moderate strength,then the spring will give and the tWo terminals 14 will be brought intoelectrical contact thus completing the circuit from the battery throughthe cartridge and the dynamite will thereby be exploded to thedestruction ol the animal carrying the bait and to other animals in theimmediate vicinity, uchile any animals not Within the destructive Zoneof the dynamite will be frightened by the explosion and the destructionof their companions so that there is little or no lilrlihood of theirreturning to the vicinity ol the disaster to them,

The only part of the device that need be renewed is the casing l and thecartridge together with the dynamite. These parts however areinexpensive and may be easily replaced when it is desired to again usethe device, which repeated use is advisable in they general vicinity orneighborhood infested With the animals it is desirable to destroy.

Accidental explosion of the dynamite is prevented by the retractal forceof the spring 13 which may be strong enough to resist ordinary handlingof the bait and cartridge and loaded casing, but which will yield to theeager tugging of an animal desirous of carrying oli' the bait.

What is claimed is:-

1. An animal trap comprising a receptacle for an explosive, a chargedelectric circuit for causing the ignition ot the explosive, and anormally open circuit-closer movable to the closed position by a forceapplied to the receptacle for the explosive.

2. An animal trap comprising a receptacle for an explosive adapted to beembedded in suitable bait, an electric circuit for firing the explosive,and a circuit closer operable by the animal to fire the explosive on anattempt by the animal to carry oil the bait.

3. An animal trap comprising a receptacle for an explosive ada ted to beembedded in a suitable bait, a c arged electric circuit for igniting theexplosive, a circuit closer in said circuit., and means tor normallyholding the circuit closer inactive and yieldable to a force applied tothe receptacle by an animal attempting to carry oil' the bait.

ll. An animal trap having means for holding an explosive and adapted tobe embedded in a suitable bait, an electric circuit and means forcharging the same, means included in the circuit and located in theexplosive container for firing the explosive, and a normally opencircuit closer controlling the electric circuit and comprising twocircuit terminals and a spring tending to maintain the terminalsseparated but yieldable to a superior force to permit contact of theterminals.

5. [in animal trap having means for holding an explosive and adapted tobe embedded in a suitable bait, an electric circuit and means forcharging the same, means included in the circuit and located in theexplosive container for i'iring the explosive, and a normally opencircuit closer controlling the electric circuit and comprising tWocircuit terminals and a spring housing the terminals and tending tomaintain the terminals separated but yieldable to a superior force topermit contact of the terminals.

ln testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own, l have hereto arlixedmy signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

Witnesses PAUL LAMBERT, CARL F. MERTZ.

